U.S. softwood lumber production up 3.4% in 2016

March 14, 2017

Source:

WWPA/Fordaq

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859

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U.S. softwood sawmills increased production by 3.4% in 2016 to 32.722 billion board ft. (bbf), up from a full-year total of 31.643 bbf in 2015.

Of the 2016 total, Western U.S. sawmills accounted for 13.884 bbf, an increase of 2.6% from 13.531 bbf in 2015, while sawmills in the South contributed 17.342 bbf – up 4.1% from 16.661 bbf, according to data released on March 8 by the Western Wood Products Assn. (WWPA) of Portland, Oregon.

In December alone, U.S. sawmills produced 2.459 bbf, a decline of 2.4% from 2.521 bbf in December 2015, and down 7.3% from output in November 2016 of 2.653 bbf, WWPA reported.

Western sawmills contributed 1.055 bbf to December’s production, a year-over-year increase of 0.7% from 1.047 bbf, but down 6.3% from production in November of 1.126 bbf.

Sawmills in the South produced 1.292 bbf in December, down 4.9% from 1.358 bbf in December 2015, and down 8.1% from November’s production volume of 1.406 bbf.

Apparent U.S. softwood lumber consumption increased by 9.7% to 48.341 bbf in 2016 from 44.082 bbf in 2015. In December, consumption was 3.614 bbf - up 1.2% from 3.572 bbf in December 2015, but down 4.9% from 3.801 bbf in the month before.